Separator for lump material.



Patented Dec.6,1910.

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A. LANGERFELD.

SEPARATOR FOR LUMP MATERIAL.

APPLIOATION rum) MAR. 15, 1902.

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A. LANGERFELD. SEPARATOR FOB. LUMP MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1902.

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Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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SEPARATOR ron LUMP MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15, 1902.

977,956. Patented Dec. 6,1910.

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A. LANGERFELD.

SEPABATOR POE LUMP MATERIAL.

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Pafented Dec. 6, 1910.

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SEPARATOR FOR LUMP MATERIAL.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR LANGERFELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSeparators for'Lump Material; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it ap pertains to make and usethe same.

M y invention relates to improvements in separating machines of thecharacter shown in my Patent No. 719,3et3, by which lump materialconsisting of a mass or mixture of pieces differing in their specificgravities and in the frictional nature of their surfaces are separatedor assorted, so that the pieces which are alike, or most nearly alike,inthe above qualities are picked out and collected together separatelyfrom the other pieces; and the objects of my invention and 1mproveinentsare :first, to bring about a more positive assortation and a widerseparation than has heretofore been attained; second, to increase therange of qualities, sizes, and shapes of the pieces separable in onemachine; third, to increase the capacity of machines of this kind;fourth, to reduce the room occupied by such machines; fifth, to reducethe cost; and sixth, to lessen the loss caused by chipping or breakingof the pieces in passing through the separator.

My present improvements are especially applicable to coal separators andfor repicking what was formerly thrown away as not worth picking, andnow known as culm, and contained in the culm dumps or slate banks at themines.

I attain these objects by the means and mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofan entire separator; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 isa central section of the upper slides showing modified details foradjusting; Figs. 4 and 5 are side views of modified forms of feedingmechanism, the adjacent parts of the receiving pocket and slide beingshown in vertical section; Fig. 6 is aperspective view of anotherarrangement of the feeding mechanism, showing also reversely inclinedslides and separating partitions; Fig. 7 is a cross section, on anenlarged scale, through a portion of one of the upper slides shown inFigs. 1 and 2;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 15, 1902.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

Serial No. 98,381.

Fig. 8 is a similar sectional view taken through the chute leading fromthe lower feeding mechanism; Fig. 9 is a Vertical section through thefeed roller and through a pair of reversely inclined slides, the upperslide being stationary and the lower slide adjustable; Fig. 10 is asimilar view through the roller, feed chute leading to the roller and amodified form of feed plate; Fig. 11 is a vertical section through thecentral and lower portions of a. modified form of separator, in whichthe reversely inclined slide and inverter for inverting the material areomitted; Fig. 12 is a similar view through a modified form of separator,adapted particularly for separating large pieces of material, and inwhich the feed roller and inverter are'omitted; Figs. 13, 14 and 15 arefront elevations of different forms of separating surfaces upon whichthe material is delivered in a direction transverse to the inclinationof the surfaces; Figs. 16 and 17 are similar views of separatingsurfaces and vertical sections through the chutes for delivering thematerial on such surfaces, showing modifications of the chutes andadjacent parts; Fig. 18 is a vertical section through the feed rollerand adjacent parts, showing a modified arrangement of the feed plate;Fig. 19 is a perspective view showing the feed plate and upper portionof the adjacent slide, the feed plate being arranged to feed directlyonto the slide; Fig. 20 is a vertical sectional view through the feedroller and a modified arrangement of the slides, in which the upperslide surface does not extend beneath the roller; Fig. 21 is a similarview through the upper slides and roller showing a modified form ofmechanism for holding and adjusting the slides; Fig. 22 is a similarview showing a modified arrangement of parts for a primary separation;Fig. 23 is a side elevation showing the feed roller, feed plate, and avertically adjustable stop or striker for the feed plate; Fig. 24 is afront view of the feed roller, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing also thesectional apron and feed chute, the drags in front of the roller and theslide being omitted; Fig. 25 is a similar View, showing the drag infront of the roller, partly broken away, and the upper end of the slide;Fig. 26 is a vertical section through the upper part of a modified formof separator; Fig. 27 is a front elevation of a feed roller having aplain. surface, and the chute and partof the feed plate leading to saidroller; Fig. 28 is a front perspective view of a convex differentiatingsurface, means for adjusting the same and a feed chute arranged todeliver material thereon in a direction transverse to the inclination ofthe chute, and Fig. 29 is a similar view of a concave differentiatingsurface, showing also a traveling belt for delivering material onto saidsurface.

In the various figures of the drawing TV indicates a frame or housingwhich incloses and supports the separator mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, A indicates a receiving andstoring pocket or hopper, arranged in the upper part of the frame TV,and into which the material to be separated is fed or dumped. The bottompieces a and a of this pocket, as shown, are inclined, and an outletopening 1 is provided between said pieces. A gate 2 is adjustablysecured to the piece 64, its function being to vary the width of theopening. The lower end of the bottom piece a extends below the openingand directs the material from the hopper or pocket A into a secondarypocket B formed by said extended end and an adjustable plate 9 which isinclined in an opposite direction to the piece a of the hopper A andextends past the lower end of said piece, leaving an outlet opening 4ttherebetween. The plate 9 forms the bottom of the secondary pocket B.The width of the outlet opening 4: may be varied by means of a gate orvalve 3 adjustably secured to the piece a. By properly restricting thewidth of the openings 1 and 4;, the material will feed by gravitythrough the pockets in a thin stream onto a moderately inclined feedplate C, sloping in an opposite direction to the plate 9 and extendingbeneath the end of said plate, leaving an outlet opening 10therebetween. The arrangement is such that any accumulation of mate rialin the pocket B will exert a back pres sure upon the material comingfrom the pocket A and thus the flow of material will be regulated. Thewidth of the opening 10 may be varied by moving the adjustable plate 9.

The feed plate C, which is preferably perforated, as shown, to permitthe dust and line material to fall through, is connected at its upperend to a fixed part of the separator frame-work by a hinge joint 5, andits lower end is supported by a spring 7. The feed plate is inclined, asshown, at such an angle that the material delivered onto it would notfreely slide down by gravity alone, if the plate were stationary. Thefeed plate is constantly vibrated by means of an angular shaft 6 whichbears against the bottom of a stirrup 0 attached to the feed plate andresting upon the spring 7. The shaft is ro tated by means of a drivingpulley 47, and the plate is forced downward thereby against the actionof the spring several times during each revolution of the shaft, andreturned by the spring. A. stop 8 is arranged to limit the upwardmovement of the plate. Lhis stop, as shown in Fig. 23, is supported bycross-pieces 55 which are acljustably secured upon standards 55 by meansof nuts 56 and 57. By adjusting the stop vertically the amount ofmovement given to the plate may be regulated. The arrangement is such asto give a arring movement to the plate.

The upper portion of the feed plate, has a plain flatsurfacc, and uponthe lower portion are arranged what I term parters or stream breakers11, consisting of ribs lying longitudinally of the feed plate, pointedat their upper ends, and increasing in height and width toward theirlower ends. The sides of the ribs are inclined, thus forming downwardlyconverging channels with slop ing sides between the adjacent pairs ofribs, as shown in Figs. 1, 19, 23, 2d and 2'7. The jarring movementimparted to the plate causes the material received upon its upperportion to spread out thereon and move downward in a thin stream. to theparters or stream breakers 11, between which the material is dividedinto a number of narrow streams. This jarring movement causes the flatand naturally slow moving pieces to travel down substantially as fast asthe other pieces on the plate.

The material passes from the channels on the feed plate into channels(Z, (Z upon a feed chute or slide D. These channels (Z, as

- shown in Figs. 2st, 25 and 27, have sloping sides, and they are madewide enough only to receive single pieces of material. The channels dare arranged in line with similarly formed annular channels 6 upon afeed roller E, and conduct the material in singlepiece files to the feedroller. A sectional apron or strick consisting of strips of metal F,loosely suspended from a rod 12 above the chute D, retards pieces ofmaterial which roll or bound from the end of the feed plate and causesthem to pass into the channels (I, through which they pass to the feedroller in the same manner as the sliding pieces.

The roller E is constantly driven in the the single-piece files one byone, and at equal intervals apart, as nearly as may be, drags G,consisting, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, of strips of metal looselysuspended from a rod 13 above the roller, are arranged to bear againstthe material and hold each piece in Succession in its place until itpasses from beneath the drag, and slides down the face of the rolleronto the curved receiving plate. In order to prevent the drags fromwearing upon the roller when the machinery is running without anymaterial passing through, a stop or rest 14 is arranged to hold thedrags out of actual contact with the roller.

The fine material which falls through the perforations in the feed plateand between the chute D and feed roller is conducted away by a chute 50arranged to catch it.

The slide section H, onto the upper end or curved deflecting portion Vof which the pieces of material are fed, spaced individually apart fromone another, in the manner described, is carried by a slide-supportingframe 17 The upper end of this frame, as shown in Fig. 1, is suspendedby arms 18 from the shaft 19 of the roller. The deflecting part V issubstantially concentric with the roller, and the frame 17 is adjustableconcentrically about the roller shaft. The lower end of the frame 17 isadjustably secured to the separator frame W by means of a rod 16 passingthrough the frame 17 and into slots 20 in the separator frame, andsuitable clamping means, such as the wing nuts 16 upon said rod whichclamp the sides of the frame 17 against the separator frame. The slot 20is concentric with the feed roller shaft.

The lower or discharge end 15 of the slide section H is turned.downwardly substantially concentric with a horizontal shaft 16 securedto the slide frame 17. Upon this rod 16 is journaled a slide frame 21,carrying a lower or secondary slide section, I,

sloping in a reverse direction to the upper section H, and having at itsupper end a part T curving around and above the lower curved end of thesection H. The slide frame 21 is adjustably secured to the slide frame17 by means of a rod 22, hinged to the former as indicated by thenumeral 23, and adjustably connected to the latter, as indicated by thenumeral 24. By this means the slide section I can be adjusted relativelyto the slide section H, and both sections can be adjusted relatively tothe roller to vary the inclinations of the slides, both being movablesubstantially concentric with the roller.

The upper end T of the slide section I and the lower end 15 of the slidesection H are so formed and arranged that the pieces of material leavingthe upper slide section will be inverted in passing onto the lowersection in the same manner as is shown and described in my Patent No.719,343 hereinbefore referred to, so that the pieces will be subjectedto the frictional resistance of their opposite sides in passing "overthe two slide sections. The curved end T intercepts the faster andslower moving pieces leaving the upper section at substantially equalangles and directs their courses around onto the lower section withoutmaterially changing their relative velocities acquired on the uppersection. Composite pieces having coal on one side and slate on theopposite side are thus given a speed at the end of the slideintermediate that of pure coal or pure slate. As all the pieces arespaced apart onthe slide, and collisions between tne pieces are largelyaverted, each piece will acquire a velocity peculiar to its ownproperties.

The material, in passing from the slide, passes over a projector J atthe lower end of the slide and is projected from the end 32 of theprojector toward separating plates K, K, the upper ends and 31 of whichdivide the stream of flying pieces into three parts, the pure coal,which moves the fastest, passing over the partition K, the slate andrefuse, which moves slowest, passing between the projector and the plateor partition K, and the material of medium or mixed quality passingbetween the separating plates. The best material is conducted away by achute 37, the slate and refuse, by a chute 39, and the mixed material isconducted to secondary separator for further separation. The material isthus given a primary separation, in which the best and poorest materialis removed, leaving only the material of intermediate quality to beseparated.

The protector shown in Fig. 1 is connected to the slide in such mannerthat the projector may be adjusted independently of the slide, or theprojector will adjust itself automatically to suit the inclination ofthe slide when the latter is adjusted. As shown, the projector consistsof a reversely curved plate, carried by a frame 25 which is journaledupon a rod 26 secured to the slide frame 21. The upper portion of theprojector is convexly curved around the rod 26 substantially concentricwith said rod, and fits against and extends beneath the end of the slideplate or section I, making a hinge joint which does not interrupt thepractical continuity of the slide section and projector when arranged atdifferent angles. The lower end of the projector is concave, so as toproject the material upwardly relatively to its course upon the slide.

The projector frame 25 has an arm 28 to which is pivotally connected aslotted adjusting rod 27, which latter is adjustably connected by aclamp 29 to the upper slide frame 17. By properly proportioning thelength of the arm 28 and arranging the clamp 29 so that the rod 27 mayswivel thereon, the projector will adjust itself when the slide sectionI is adjusted by the rod 22.

The separating plates K, K in Fig. 1 have their upper end portionsattached to rods 38, 33 which project laterally beyond the plates andare adjustably held within lit;

slots 84 in the sides of the frame W. The lower portions of the platesrest upon fixed steps 35 and 36, which, as shown, are at the upper endsof the chutes 37 and 39. The upper ends of the plates may be adjustedtoward and from the projector to intercept the stream of flying piecesat the desired points.

The pieces of material which pass into the space between the plates orpartitions K, K will, as previously stated, generally be of mixedquality, and they will land on an inclined plate 38 and be directedthereby into a receiving pocket Vhen anthracite coal is being separatedthis mixture will be mostly small pieces of good coal, pieces of boneworth saving, and large worthless pieces of bony slate, or slate thathas a thin covering of coal. All these pieces slide nearly alike on Hand l, and require greater spacing apart and longer slides to separatethem. If reseparated by similar but longer slides than ll and I, thenthe pieces of coal would have to be thrown so far from a projector likeJ that much loss would be caused by their breakage in striking theparting edges and parting plates like it. it therefore feed andreseparate this part of the material by first chuting the pieces intothe small pocket M. In the bottom of this pocket there is a series ofreciprocating rods N. The upper ends of these rods are flush with or alittle below the bottom of the pocket M when they are in their lowestposition, and they are of such a size and shape that only one piece ofthe material will stay on the end of each one when the rod comes up. When the rods are in their highest positions their upper ends are flushwith or a little above the upper end of a slide 60. The tops of the rodsN slant substantially the same as the slide 60, so that the materialwill slide off the tops of the rods onto said slide as soon as the topshave risen high enough. These rods N are spaced apart to correspond withthe subsequent darts of the machine, and they are operated by eccentricsll) upon a shaft 49 having a driving pulley 48 thereon. Each piece ofmaterial will acquire a certain velocity in moving down the slide (50,and those pieces which roll and bound will be prevented from bounding uphigh by the shield or dash board to. At the lower end 40 of the slide60, and in line with each feed rod N, l place another declivous surface,P, P, etc., slanting to one side, or obliquely to the slide 60, as shownin Fig. 2. Adjacent to the lower ends of P, l etc, I place curvedinverters Q, Q, etc., designed to turn the pieces of material down,around and over, and thus deliver them onto the reverse slides ll, R,etc., respectively, in verted and without having their individual speedsaltered materially. At the lower ends of the slides R, R, etc., 1 placeparters or partitions S, S, etc., which are made adj ustable anddesigned to separate the stream of pieces into small streams of whicheach one will contain similar pieces.

1 prefer to divide the slide (30 into concave channels or chutes G, t),etc., as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, so as to make it more certain that thepieces of material from each feed rod .hl will remain in line with thefeed rod and properly enter upon the respective oblique surface P, P,etc. The slides P, P, P It, etc, have suliiciently wide and unobstructedsurfaces to permit the material delivered in a transverse directionthereon, to separate laterally according to their initial velocities andindividual properties. In sliding down in the channels 0, Q, etc., eachpiece will acquire a peculiar momentum and Velocity of its own in thedirection of the respective channels (l, O, etc, down which it slid. @nreaching the surface P each piece is deflected sidewise without losingmuch of its peculiar momentum, and as two forces are then acting uponthe pieces in different directions the pieces will travel in curves onthe surface it, because the said momentum is diminished by frictionwhile gravitation increases the speed of the j ieces in the direction ofthe slant of the surface P. These curves are approximately parabolas andthe lengths of their bases will depend upon the amount of momentum orspeed acquired by the pieces of material in the channels 0, G, etc, andsomewhat on the friction on the surface 1 Thus each piece will reach theinverters Q at a dis tance from the edge ll in proportion to itsspecific gravity and the frictional nature of its surface. The bestpieces of coal will slide the farthest from the edge it], and thepoorest pieces of bone and pieces of slate will slide down near the edgell. As the friction of the pieces on the surfaces lt, lt, etc., stillfurther differentiates them, their separation will be very distinct andperfect when they finally reach the parters S, S, etc. This wide anddistinct separation obviates the necessity for altering the setting ofthe separator when the weather changes, or when the material is only asvariable as from different veins in neighboring mines.

I prefer to make the surfaces of Ill and l of corrugated material, asshown in Figs. 2 and 7, because then small particles and dust will notinterfere with the friction of the surfaces of the pieces of material onthe surface of the slide by acting as rollers under the pieces ofmaterial. The small particles and dust will run down in the hollows atfof the corrugations, and the regular sized pieces will slide on the rid'es ll, as is illustrated in Fig. 7. These longitudinal corrugationsalso cause the pieces to slide straight down, which makes sidecollisions less likely. Similarly I prefer to make the channels 0,

0, etc., of the chute 60, corrugated as shown in the section, Fig. 8.

The slides I I etc., It, R, etc, are preferably made adjustable to varytheir inclination, by suitably hinging the upper ends Z of the formerand by jointing the upper and lower slides together, or the frames whichcarry the slides, on a line passing through the centers of the invertersQ, Q, etc. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner.

From the foregoing description the opera tion of the machine will beunderstood without further explanation.

The various parts of my machine may be combined in different ways fordifferent uses, and in the accompanying drawing I have illustrated anumber of modifications.

In Fig. 3 I have shown an arrangement in which the slide frame 17,instead of being journaled upon the shaft of the feed roller, issupported at its upper end by a beam 51 having a curved upper edge 52upon which the slide frame rests. The slot 20, as in Fig. 1, isconcentric with the roller and when the lower end of the slide frame isadjusted the slide will swing substantially concentric with the roller.In this figure also, instead of connecting the projector frame to theslide frame 17 in a way to make the projector automatically adjustablewhen the slide sec tion I is adjusted, as in Fig. 1, the projector frame25 and the slide frame 21 are adjustably connected together by a rod 27hinged to an arm 28 upon the projector frame, and secured to an arm 23upon the slide frame 21 by a suitable clamp 29. The arm 23 is'connectedby an adjustable link or rod 22 to the slide frame 17. In Fig. 3 also, Ihave shown the projector frame 25 extended to form a support for theupper ends of the separating plates or partitions K, K, this extensionhaving slots 3 therein, to receive the rods 33, 83 to which theseparating plates are connected. IVith this arrangement, when theprojector is adjusted, the upper edges 30 and 31 of the separatingplates remain in fixed relation to the end of the projector.

Instead of making the feed rods, which lift the material from thepocket, straight, as in Figs. 1 and 2, they may be made arcnate in form,as shown at N Fig. l, or N Fig. The form shown in Fig. has the advantageof tending to throw the pieces of material off of the rod toward tl eslide.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a series of feed rots arranged in a row, in whichth alternate rods I and intermediate rods are reciprocatedsimultaneously in opposite directions, so that the pieces of materialfed onto the slide II will be spaced apart from each other laterally aswell as longitudinally upon the slide. In this figure the rods N areoperated by eccentrics upon a shaft 49* and the rods N by eccentricsupon a shaft 4-9. In this figure the feed rods are arranged to feeddirectly onto the upper reversely arranged slides H and I, and a veryperfect separation can be obtained with this arrangement. It will benoted that, with this system of feed rods, the entire surface of theslide is used for differentiating purposes, and, as one series of rodspicks up material, while the other series is delivering material ontothe slide, twice as many pieces can be fed onto the slide in a giventime, as can be fed by a single series of rods spaced apart from oneanother.

In Fig. 9 I have shown the upper slide frame 17 stationary with respectto the roller, and the lower slide frame 21 adjustable and provided witha projector J, and in Fig. 10 I have shown the feed plate C restingdirectly upon the angular shaft, the spring and stop or striker beingomitted. This arrangement is suitable for handling light material.

In Fig. 11 I have shown an arrangement suitable for separating materialwhich does not contain composite pieces or pieces which vary on theiropposite sides and which therefore do not require inversion. In thisfigure the reverse slides I and R of Fig. 1 are omitted and a projectorJ is arranged at the lower end of the slide II.

In Fig. 12 I have shown an arrangement suitable for separating large,heavy pieces of material, in which the material is fed directly from thefeed plate G into the hopper- M, from whence it is delivered in singlepieces onto the chute 60, and is then directed in a transverse directiononto the slides P and If.

As the change in direction from the chute or slide (30 to the surface Iis rather abrupt, it is desirable to insert an intermediate plate U,Fig. 13, whose lay is intermediate between the lays of said chute andsurface. Or more than one intermediate plate may be inserted so as tomake the change in direction very gradual, as shown in Fig. let. Inplace of the steps or plates U, U, U*, one twisted or bent surface X maybe used, as shown in Fig. 15. These intermediate plates U, or U, U andthe twisted or bent surface X, prevent breakage of the pieces of goodcoal and also turn the course of all the pieces without materiallyinterfering with the individual velocities acquired in the channels 0,0, etc.

hen a very wide separation is wanted on I, or on P and R, I place aprojector J at the lower end of the slide 60, as shown in Fig. 16. It isbest to let this projector end horizontally, as shown in said figure,but the projector may also be turned slightly upward, as illustrated inFig. 17 at J In Fig. 16 the chute 60 is shown adjustable about a shaft Zat its upper end and is supported at its lower end by one or moreadjustable rods Y. l n F 17 the projector J is also shown to be adjustably connected to the frame of the slide or chute (50 by a link 27.

When the material comes to the separator in a steady stream notexceeding the separators capacity, then the pockets A and B may beomitted. Some of the minor parts shown may also be omitted when a veryperfectseparation is not desired. Thus the stream parters 11, and thechutes (Z may be omitted, and the pieces fed directly from the plate 0onto the roller E, as shown in Fig. 18. And when only a partial separation is desired the material may be fed directly from the end of thefeed plate U onto the deflector V or slide H, as shown in Fig. 19.

In Fig. 20, instead of arranging the upper slide section beneath thefeed roller and arranging a deflecting curved plate concentric with theroller, the slide section H extends upwardly to the forward side of theroller. This arrangement is suitable for some purposes but in handlingthe finer material small pieces are apt to become jammed between theslide and the roller and the arrangement with. the curved deflectingplate is preferable.

In Fig. 21 I have shown a modified arrangement of rods and parts forsupporting and adjusting the reversely inclined slides H and l. in thisfigure the slides are supported vertically by the ad ustable leverhaving a slot 58 which is engaged by a pin upon the frame of the lowerslide section and the slide is supported and adjusted laterally by meansof the adjustable lever 5% and link 51, which connects said lever withthe slide frame.

When such a separator is to be used for separating culm, a single piecefeeder, a

' slide having no projector, and only one parting plate, as illustratedby C, l), H, K, Fig. should be inserted before the slide H. T I J shownin Fig. 1, because wood, bark, and other pieces of material that do notslide well usually clog a projector. I use only one parting plate K, forthe preliminary separation of cuhn, as shown in Fig. 22, because thepieces of wood, etc, will drop almost perpendicularly from the end ofthe slide H onto the chute 37, while the coal, bone and nearly all theslate will land on the plate K. C, the same as C, Fig. l, and otherrequired parts are added below (I in a cuhn separator. m, Fig. 22 is adash-board for arresting all the pieces of material coming over It: andcausing them to land on the upper part of the plate C.

In Fig. 25 l have shown a strick F, consisting of an apron of flexiblematerial arranged above the chute D, and also a drag G, consisting of anapron of flexible material arranged in front of the feed roller. Suchflexible fabric or material may be used instead of the metal stripsshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 24, but the latter wear longer and are thereforepreferable.

in place of the chute 60 other means may be substituted for impelling orsending the pieces of material transversely onto the upper part of theslanting surface such as the traveling belt (31, Fig. 25), the mostessential feature of this part of my invention being the spreading ofthe stream transversely over the surface by imparting velocity to thepieces and then sending them across or obliquely over the surface. Thebest result is obtained by feeding the pieces of material apart fromeach other into the chute (30 and permitting them. to each acquire anindividual velocity therein by their gravity and friction, and thencausing them to spread by feeding them transversely onto the side wiseslanting surface P, but this spreadil'ig will also take place to asutlicient extent for some purposes by sending the pieces over thesurface l at equal, or nearly equal velocities and close behind eachother. because on account of the sidewise slant or the surface 1, pieceswhich are close behind each other will be free to slide down sidewiseindependent of each other. For instance if a piece of coal isimmediately* behind a piece of slate in the chute (30, then the piece ofslate will impede and retard the piece of coal, and the piece of coalwill push and accelerate the piece of slate, but after arriving on thesidewisc slanting surface El these two pieces will be free to leave eachother, because they will then slide to one side besides continuing toend to slide in the general direction of the momentum acquired in thechute 30, or other means by which they may have been impelled. Onaccount of their different frictions on the surface P they will travelin diverging lines over said surface and thus become separated accordingto their gravity and friction on P. A. good separation usually obtainedby making the surface i a plane, but it may also be made a littleconvex, as shown at 1, Fig. 28, or concave, as shown at P", Fig. 29, asmay be found most desirable for the separation wanted. A. properlyformed convex surface will give the widestseparation and will especiallytend to separate the coal and bone more than a plane surface at P. Aconcave surface at I. will tend to separate only the slate and keep thecoal and bone together. A concave surface is therefore most suitable forseparating small steam of coal from which only the heavy slate or rockis to be, separated; and a convex surface is most suitable for thelargest sizes. l Vhen only a partial separation is required, or when thepieces are very large, then a small stream of pieces may be fed intoeach channel 0, 0, etc., without spacing all the pieces apartlengthwise, because upon entering on the sidewise slanting surfaces P,P, etc., the pieces will become spaced apart to such an extent that afairly good separation will be obtained, even if the pieces follow closebehind each other in the channels 0, 0", etc. As the pieces will nearlyall acquire an equal velocity in the channels, when they are fed closebehind each other, they will separate mainly by their frictions on thesurfaces P, P, etc., and the surfaces P, P, etc., and R, R, etc., musttherefore be made long enough to give room and time or length for asntlicient separation. By again feeding the pieces transversely ontosidewise slanting surfaces from the chutes S S, S S etc., an almostperfect separation might be ol tained without any of the mechanicalmoving parts E, C, and N, N, etc.

In Fig. 26 I have shown an arrangement for feeding the pieces ofmaterial separately onto the upper slide sections H and I, in which thematerial from the receiving and storing pocket A and the secondarypocket B is fed directly into a pocket M and from the latter pocket thepieces of material are lifted singly by reciprocating feed rods l\ anddelivered upon the upper slide section. Such an arrangement gives a veryperfect separation at the separating partitions K, K. In this figure, itwill be noted, the vibrating plate, feed roller and intermediate chuteI), shown in Fig. 1, are not required.

The feed roller is preferably grooved, but, as shown in Fig. 27, a plainroller E may be employed when the channels (Z or ribs 11, or both areused.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a separator of the kind described, a stationary receiving pockethaving downwardly inclined bottom pieces and having a restricteddischarge opening between said pieces, one of said inclined bottompieces be ing extended under the other, a bottom plate inclinedoppositely to and extending under and adjacent to the lower end of saidextended bottom piece, and forming therewith a stationary secondarypocket having a restricted outlet opening, a feed plate arranged belowthe outlet of said secondary pocket and inclined oppositely to saidbottom plate, means for vibrating said feed plate and separatingmechanism arranged to receive the material from said feed plate.

2. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to'be separated onto the slide comprising afeed roller at the upper end of the slide, an inclined feed platearranged to convey material to said roller the inclination of said platebeing such that the material will not slide freely thereon, means forgiving sudden or jarring movements to said plate, and means fordelivering the material onto said plate.

3. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to be separated onto the slide comprising afeed roller at the upper end of the slide, an inclined feed platearranged at such an angle that the material will not slide freelythereon, means for vibrating said plate, and a stationary slide sectionarranged to conduct the material from said plate to the roller.

4. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to be separated onto the slide comprising afeed roller at the upper end of the slide, an inclined feed platearranged at such an angle that the material will not slide freely thereon, having a plain upper portion and ribs or stream breakers near itslower end, means for vibrating said plate, and a stationary slidesection arranged to conduct the ma terial from said plate to the roller.

5. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to be separated onto the slide comprising afeed roller at the upper end of the slide, an inclined feed platearranged at such an angle that the material will not slide freelythereon, having a plain upper portion and ribs or stream breakers nearits lower end, means for vibrating said plate, and a stationary slidesection having channels arranged to conduct the material from said plateto the roller.

6. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to be separated onto said slide comprising amoderately inclined feed plate, means for vibrating said plate, astationary slide sec tion having channels thereon and arranged betweensaid plate and differentiating slide, and one or more yielding apronssuspended above said channels.

7. In a separator, the combination with a differentiating slide and oneor more separating partitions at the lower end of the slide, of meansfor feeding the material to be separated onto the slide comprising afeed roller having annular channels, means for delivering the materialinto the channels concentric :cnring 11L- i'eed roller, IO ier secs ofthe ction nivoiaally conined opor holding said 7 ositions of adjustmentrltnip dcol? the said lower stine axi he roller. d described ating slideelv inclined and ad- 84 ially and ineans l'or s an up about the and 11.{1

i'ion 1d means he 1(11' differenti an im ore ller.

e co

sv lower se ie in per se ction J op slid

ed to 1e slide in any 13. in i decline ion arra fed 1'0 1' reltl'ierei'o, a

Ti. we d .r H L 1 (h.1 l @111 C I Q A r\ n 1L .1 i. 1 9 V S L Y1 S e ilan H S 1 O Q 0 m 0 U C D l h e V/..1 7 0t 1 1 15 Q d i 1 1 S J 1 1 l 1 L1 1 1 n e. 1 G 0 1 0 0:1 H n ..L:|.ld.1 1 1 Liv i O 1 1 1 {L n L e C O DM h C 1 Q IL. m 11 S 1L fl 1 w E 1 Fa m n 1 1 a n w 1 1 O Q 0 0 S r....1 l G V l n w Md n o s 1 s! 1 L i 1 i 1 1 U 1 1 n o 1 1 l (c Q 1 1L 1 1v l J L 1 1 1 L C LL n 1.. D d i. 1.1 n6 1 1 .E 0.00 1. 1 H G 1 W .1 n Hh i l i v. f 1 M H 1 i l L. :1 t 1 ...u n O S .L. L Q G LL 1 1 e Yo wk1.1 O .1 L a. 11 ll roller and. a

separho -.- ll 1.0m.

suspended above Hi 0n n O 1 LL 1 1 sin a'lino' 11 rurn downwan neans lorroller.

sub

eronti F 1 ring 1) slid of said roller, and. one or iii :re

Vino

and in lin Q. 3% C "1r x 1 .m. v u e 1 1 l G 1 11.... U .0 2 d lhl (c CQ. l .1 L w. (L 1 e i. .1 Q U 1 1 1.1 Q 97. CE. .L .4 1 1 SPI l 1. n 1 0B H t O $1 n 10 1 W... 7. v.112 1P. 1 S 9 .LL i .i O we 8d 1 01V .1 1 11 1 LL A no. 111 H a a n. D S i D m h 1 s 1 .1 C .11 1 1 0 11 .1 n 1 1 b1 1 3 m mwm w m m C m o. 6 MW B n 3 O .1 0 I 1 1 C D O w h G11 6 951 Ti1 h 1 w r l SJ FH n 1 me as d Ad 3 Q a 1 l 0 0 Q C 01 C1 1 AU 5 2 2.liion to 1% ction secured in fired at its slide xed 1 lower section theion, and a proler, ble about pris- 1 op .he upper section and adnsliably per '2 nd the lower end L10 pivotally e and a slide :Lion andetion and 10 no said lowe around teed 1'01 fixed rela- 1 lower sectioninto the upper section and ed to said iraine sold lower rising inec asup 11 secured in ii 011d e con e r u 1 rel "ranie and a lower section11101 slid or, 9. .ram

per s y 1 ound th i lower ind of the pp r section.

c i'frain tor. 2L '1 no H(1]1!S a ciion secured in nrvingr gradnii ixettor at riall c ator, a feed roller,

said lower section ,cnarai aine adjustable about o the upper ..e

ihe up secured in s.

per

Sr'l

ii 1 3-1.. a slide conip rain oer se 11 111G and a lower section w airrarii 3/ so anc r son .I.'.

1y arou secured in 1 '1 posh 'v SS-CLUfQCl to s aid. ro

ori'iins.

id invertin gradual end curv'i'm' In a posireiy 11 [ion having" aninverting deflector at its inclined opp-es JkljUSi'illJl "FY-1 1 7 111.3 1.1.11 seem section havino' an invertino' deflector at its pper endsecured to s havin end curvi I said per end of sold ably supporting saidHM. described,

ler, declivou 1" rhedir .neans n and norir' e11 said chain;

deliv ie or more drz ial to eh e o 0 hold combinaone or more sepaann ola nieai rolle no, nrning sid J reed-rel from b said - chennellcodroller. pal

ding o eed-r ch means ror lce iralor,

1V l? .l. 1..

nd in r or vitn on or more er in e sepz ollei. material to said roller,

1 forward or downwardl means for adjust i. n a gravity con'iprising a iw 11 P act T tion of a declivous si l. i gravity 5 ing' from the lowerphi ers on the lowe 'ylGl(.=.1.u;9I

113 of n'r" cod 1 ide i'ron'ibinaiion l pose described. lnnired naneedplalc. a

on breakers 49 one or more 1 separate purpose set and a sto eed rollerat the 1. channels lea( inels,

' ty of n ng over the said i 1n 2 Ieed roller .iels, in con'iblna ragsout of con '101'6 yie plate arranged in clivons channels 1e said sirsaid channels, one or i feed-plat:

pieces of channels, hrng over the rel 1 loosely suspei molly lyingsubsrantia roller, C1

ratin partitions at the lower end 0 hint cnai

braled breal W slide, slide,

of the upper section, and a projector hinged to said lower section andadjustably con nected with the frame.

21. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a declivousfrictional differentiating slide in two oppositely inclined sections,the frame of the lower section being adjustably jointed to the frame ofthe upper section near the lower end of the upper section, adjustablemeans for holding the lower section in a suitable position, a projectoradjustably jointed to the lower end of the lower section of the saidslide, one or more connecting rods jointed to a part of the frame of thesaid projector at one end, and jointed to a part of the frame of thesaid upper section of slide at the other end, said jointed connectionbeing so placed and proportioned as to automatically set the projectorin a suitable position whenever the lower section of the said slide isbeing adjusted.

22. In a gravity separator, a declivous slide, an adjustable projectorframe at the lower end of said slide, a projector carried by said frame,and one or more separating plates or partitions having their upper endscarried by said projector frame and their lower portions resting uponfixed supports.

23. In a separator for lump material, a differentiating slide, a pocketarranged transversely of the slide at its upper end and adapted tocontain a quantity of the material to be separated, means for feedingthe material into said pocket, a plurality of rods or fingers spacedapart from one another and movable from the bottom of said pocket to theupper edge of the slide, each rod having its upper end suitably formedto carry only a small proportion of the material within the pocket fromthe pocket to the slide during each upward movement of the rod, andmeans for reciprocating said rods.

24. In a gravity separator, a pocket adapted to receive a quantity ofmixed lump material, a series of reciprocating rods or fingers arrangedto lift pieces of material from said pocket to the surface of the slide,and means for reciprocating the alternate and intermediate rods in theseries in opposite directions simultaneously.

25. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide, having adifferentiating surface which is substantially a plane sur face, andarranged at such an angle that the pieces of material. will move bygravitV thereon, and means for imparting velocity to the material to beseparated and for directing it onto the upper portion of the slide in adirection transverse to the general lay or slope of the slide andsubstantially parallel with the surface thereof, whereby the lateralmovement of the pieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by thefriction of the pieces on the slide, and the pieces will gravitate inlines diverging laterally on the slide substantially according to theirinitial velocities and their frictional retardation upon the slide.

26. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide, having adiiferentiating area approximating a plane surface, arranged at such an.angle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover, andmeans for imparting velocity to the material to be separated and fordelivering the pieces of material spaced individually apart from oneanother on to said slide in a direction which will cause the pieces ofmaterial to move across the surface of the slide to various horizontaldistances from the point of delivery, said slide being so for-med andarranged that the transverse movement of the pieces will be graduallydiminished or arrested by the friction of the pieces upon the slide andthe pieces will gravitate in lines diverging laterally on the slidesubstantially according to their initial velocities and their frictionalretardation upon the slide.

27. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide, having adifferentiating area approximating a plane surface, arranged at such anangle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover, meansfor imparting velocity to the material to be separated and fordelivering the pieces of material spaced individually apart from oneanother on to said slide in a direction which will cause the pieces ofmaterial to move across-the surface of the slide to various horizontaldistances from the point of delivery, said slide being so formed andarranged that the transverse movement of the pieces will be graduallydiminished or arrested by the friction of the pieces upon the slide andthe pieces will gravitate in lines diverging laterally on the slidesubstantially according to their initial velocities and their frictionalretardation upon the slide, and one or more separating partitionsarranged to divide the material moving downward over the slide.

28. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material will move by gravitythereover, and means for imparting individual velocities to the piecesof material according to their properties and for delivering the piecesspaced individually apart from one another on to said slide in adirection transverse to the general slope or inclination of the slide,said slide being so formed and arranged that the transverse movement ofthe pieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction ofthe pieces upon the slide and the pieces will gravitate in linesdiverging laterally on the slide substantially according to theirinitial velocities and their frictional retardation upon the slide.

29. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material will move by gravitythereover, means for imparting individual velocities to the pieces ofmaterial according to their properties and for delivering the piecesspaced individually apart from one another on to said slide in a direction transverse to the general slope or inclination of the slide, saidslide being so formed and arranged that the transverse movement of thepieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction of thepieces upon the slide and the pieces Will gravitate in lines diverginglaterally on the slide substantially according to their initialvelocities and their frictional retardation upon the slide, and one ormore separating partitions arranged to divide the material 1novingdownward over the slide.

30. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material *ivill move by gravitythereover, and a ditlerentiating chute arranged to deliver the materialto be separated onto the upper portion of said slide in a directiontransverse to the general slope or inclination of said slide, said slidebeing so formed and arranged that the transverse movement of the piecesWill be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction of the piecesupon the slide and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverginglaterally on the slide substantially according to the velocities withwhich they are delivered on the slide and their frictional retardationthereon.

31. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material Will move by gravitythereover, a differentiating chute arranged to deliver the material tobe separated on to the upper portion of said slide in a directiontransverse to the general slope or inclination of said slide, said slidebeing so formed and arranged that the transverse movement of the pieceswill be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction of the piecesupon the slide and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverginglaterally on the slide substantially according to the veloci ties Withwhich they are delivered on the slide and their frictional retardationthereon, and means for delivering the pieces of material spacedindividually apart from one another on to said chute.

32. In a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material Will move by gravitythereover, and a differentiating chute having a longitudinallycorrugated surface, the ridges of said surface being convexly curved andin such proximity that the pieces of material will slide on tWO or moreof them, said chute being arranged to deliver the material to beseparated on to the upper portion of said slide in a directiontransverse to the general slope or inclination of said slide, and saidslide being so formed and arranged that the transverse movement of thepieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction of thepieces upon the slide and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverginglaterally on the slide substantia-lly according to the velocities withwhich they are delivered on the slide and their frictional retarda 'onthereon.

in a separator for lump material UK.)- it stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material will move by gravitythereover, and a dil'lerentiating chute having a projector at its lowerend arranged to deliver the material to be separated on to the upperportion of said slide in a direction transvci to the general slope orinclination of said Siltl said slide being so formed and arranged thatthe transverse movement of the pieces will be gradually diniinis'died orarrested by the friction of the pieces upon the slide and the pieces\vil gravitate in lines diverging laterally on the slide substantiallyaccording to the velocities with which they are delivered on the slideand their frictional retardation thereon.

34-. in a separator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged atsuch an angle that the pieces of material will move by gravitythereover, and a diiferentiating chute having an adjustable projector atits lower end arranged to deliver the material to be separated on to theupper portion of naid slide in a direction transv to the general slopeor inclination ,if said slide, said slide being so formed and arrangedthat the transve "'i movement of the pieces will be gradually diminishedor arrested bv the friction of the pieces upon the slide and the piecesWill gravitate in lines divcrgii'ig laterally on the slidesniliistantially accord- 1'. to the velocities with which they aredolivered on the slide and their frictioi'ial rctardation thereon.

In a se 'iarator for lump material, a stationary slide arranged at suchan angle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover, anda vertically adjl'istable differentiating chute arranged to deliver thematerial to be separated on to the upper portion of said slide in adirection transverse to the general slope or inclination of said slide,said slide being so formed and arranged that the trai'isverse movementof the pieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by the frictionof the pieces upon the slide and the pieces Will gravitate in linesdiverging laterally on the slide substantially according to thevelocities with which they are delivered on the slide and theirfrictional retardation thereon.

36. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a declivousfrictional differentiating chute, a surface at the lower end of the saidchute slanting sidewise -to the chute and arranged for the purpose setforth, and one or more surfaces leading from the lower end of the saidchute onto the upper part of the said slanting surface the lay or laysof these ii'itern'iediate surfaces being intermediate between the lay ofthe bottom of the said chute and the lay of the top of the said slantingsurface.

87. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a declivousfrictional differentiating chute, a surface slanting sidewise to thechute and arranged for the purpose set forth, and a twisted surfaceleading from the lower end of the chute onto the upper part of the saidslanting surface.

38. In a separator for lump material a series of slides inclined at suchan angle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover anda differentiating chute arranged to deliver the material to be separatedonto the upper portions of said slides in a direction transverse to thegeneral slope or inclination of the slides, said slides being so formedand arranged that the transverse movement of the pieces will begradually diminished or arrested by the friction of the pieces upon theslides and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverging laterally on thes ides substantially according to the velocities with which they aredelivered onto the slides and their frictional retardation thereon.

39. In a separator for lump material a series of slides inclined at suchan angle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover, adifferentiating chute arranged to deliver the material to be separatedonto the upper portions of said slides in a direction transverse to thegeneral slope or inclination of the slides, said slides being so formedand arranged that the transverse movement of the pieces will begradually diminished or arrested by the friction of the pieces upon theslides and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverging laterally on theslides substantially according to the velocities with which they aredelivered onto the slides and their frictional retardation thereon, andseparating partitions arranged to divide the material passing from theslides.

40. In a separator for lump material, the combination of a chute, aseries of slides arranged at the lower end of the chute and slantingsidewise to the lay of said chute, and a second series of slidessucceeding said first mentioned series and sloping in an oppositedirection thereto, and means for inverting the material While passingfrom the first mentioned series of slides to the second series.

41. In a separator for lump material, the combination of a chute, aseries of slides arranged at the lower end of the chute and slantingsidewise to the lay of said chute, and a second series of slidessucceeding said first mentioned series and sloping in an oppositedirection thereto, means for inverting the material while passing fromthe first mentioned series of slides to the second series, andseparating partitions adjacentto the second series of slides.

42. In a separator for lump material a se ries of slides inclined atsuch an angle that the pieces of material will move by gravitythereover, a differentiating chute having a series of longitudinalchannels, one channel for each slide, arranged to deliver the materialto be separated onto the upper portions of said slides in a directiontransverse to the general slope or inclination of the slides, saidslides being so formed and arranged that the transverse movement of thepieces will be gradually diminished or arrested by the friction of thepieces upon the slides and the pieces will gravitate in lines diverginglaterally on the slides substantially according to the velocities withwhich they are delivered onto the slides and their frictionalretardation thereon, and separating partitions arranged to divide thematerial pass ing from the slides.

43. In a separator for lump material a series of slides inclined at suchan angle that the pieces of material will move by gravity thereover, adifferentiating chute having a series of longitudinal channels, onechannel for each slide, arranged to deliver the material to be separatedonto the upper portions of said slides in a direction transverse to thegeneral slope or inclination of the slides, said slides being so formedand arranged that the transverse movement of the pieces will begradually diminished or arrested'by the friction of the pieces upon theslides and the pieces will gravitate in li es diverging laterally on theslides substantially according to the velocities with which they aredelivered onto the slides and their frictional retardation thereon.

44. In a separator for lump material, the combination with a chutehaving a series of longitudinal channels, of a series of slides, one foreach channel, said slides being arranged at the lower end of the chuteand sloping sidewise to the lay of said chute, a second series of slidessucceeding said first series and sloping in an opposite directionthereto, and means for inverting the material while passing from thefirst mentioned series of slides to the second series.

45. In a separator for lump material, the combination with a chutehaving a series of longitudinal channels, of a series of slides, one foreach channel, said slides being arranged at the lower end of the chuteand sloping sidewise to the lay of said chute, a second series of slidessucceeding said first series and sloping in an opposite directionthereto, means for inverting the material while passing from the firstmentioned series ofslides to the second series, and separatingpartitions adjacent to the second series of slides.

46. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a pair ofdeclivous surfaces successively slanting in opposite directions to eachother, means for inverting the pieces of material at the lower end ofthe upper one of the said pair of surfaces, and means for impartingvelocity to the pieces of material and sending them sidewise onto theupper part of the upper one of the said slanting surfaces.

47. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a pair ofdeclivous surfaces successively slanting in opposite directions to eachother and arranged for the purpose set forth, means for inverting thepieces of materialv at the lower end of the upper one of the said pairof surfaces, means for imparting velocity to the pieces of material andsending them sidewise onto the upper part of the upper one of the saidslanting surfaces, and means for dividing the stream of pieces ofmaterial at the end of the last one of the said surfaces.

48. In a separator of the kind described, the combination. of adeclivous chute, a pair of surfaces at the lower end of the chuteslanting sidewise to the chute in opposite directions to each other andarranged for the purpose set forth, and a section at the upper end ofthe lower one of the said pair of surfaces gradually turning around fromthe direction of the said upper end toward the direction of the lowerend of the upper one of the said pairs of surfaces.

49. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a declivouschute, a surface at the lower end of the chute slanting sidewise to thechute and arranged for the purpose set forth, a joint between the saidchute and surface, and means for holding the said surface in a suitableposition.

50. In a separator of the kind described, the combination of a declivouschute, a pair of surfaces slanting sidewise to the said chute inopposite directions to each other and arranged for the purpose setforth, a section at the upper end of the lower one of the said pair ofsurfaces gradually turning around toward the direction of the upper oneof the said surfaces, a joint between the upper end of the upper one ofthe said surfaces and the lower end of the said chute, a joint betweenthe lower end of the upper surface and the upper end of the lowersurface, the latter joint being substantially concentric with the turnedsection at the upper end of the lower one of the said slides.

51. In a separator of the kind. described, the combination of a chute,means for feeding pieces of material to said chute, a frictionaldifferentiating surface at the lower end of the said chute slantingsidewise to the said. chute, means for inverting the pieces of materialby turning them over and around, another frictional differentiatingsurface slanting so as to receive the turned pieces of material, andmeans for separating the pieces at the end of the said second slantingsurface.

52. In a separator for lump material such as coal, slate, etc., adeclivous slide having a differentiating surface composed of ridgesextending in parallel vertical planes in the direction of the slidesdeclivity, the upper surface of said ridges being rounded or convex incross-section and forming the support for the pieces of lump materialpassing thereover, and said ridges being separated by dust-conveyingchannels of less width than said pieces of lump material, means forfeeding said lump material on to the slide, and means for separating thelump material passing from the slide.

A separator comprising a feed roller, one or more drags hung over thedescending side of said roller and arranged for the purpose set forth, aslide including one or more declivous sections having frictionaldifferentiating surfaces, said slide being arranged to receive thepieces of material from the feed roller on its upper end, and one ormore separating plates arranged adj acent to the lower end of the slide.

54. In a separator for lump material, the combination of a slideincluding one or more sections having declivous frictionaldifferentiating surfaces, means for intermittently feeding the pieces ofmaterial onto the slide in single piece transverse rows in which thepieces are spaced apart from each other, and one or more separatingpartitions arran 'ed adjacent to the lower end of the slide.

lin testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

ARTHUR LANGERFELD.

Witnesses H. H. BRADY, J11, F. C. FULLER.

